Gas storage structure and gas storage apparatus including the same

Abstract

Provided are a gas storage structure and a gas storage apparatus including the gas storage structure. The gas storage structure includes a gas storage part including an opening thereon and an entrance control part disposed on the opening and including a gate.

1. A gas storage structure, comprising:
 a gas storage part defining an inner space for storing a gas, the gas storage part comprising an opening connecting the inner space to an outer space, and a porous structure; and 
 an entrance control part disposed on the opening, the entrance control part comprising a gate, 
 wherein an outer wall of the gas storage part is defined by lattice spaces of the porous structure. 
 
     
     
       2. The gas storage structure of  claim 1 , wherein the gate has a size greater than that of a lattice space of the gas storage part at a temperature higher than a critical temperature, wherein the critical temperature is higher than that of a vaporization point of the gas and lower than that of a melting point of the entrance control part. 
     
     
       3. The gas storage structure of  claim 2 , wherein the gate has a size equal to or less than that of the lattice space of the gas storage part at a temperature less than the critical temperature. 
     
     
       4. A gas storage structure, comprising:
 a gas storage part defining an inner space for storing a gas, the gas storage part comprising an opening connecting the inner space to an outer space; and 
 an entrance control part disposed on the opening, the entrance control part comprising a gate, 
 wherein the entrance control part is formed of a material having a melting point less than that of a material constituting the gas storage part. 
 
     
     
       5. A gas storage apparatus comprising:
 a chamber for maintaining a space therein in a vacuum state; 
 a heating unit disposed within the chamber; 
 a cooling unit disposed within the chamber; and 
 a gas storage structure disposed within the space, 
 wherein the gas storage structure comprises a gas storage part defining an inner space for storing a gas and comprising an opening connecting the inner space to an outer space and an entrance control part disposed on the opening and comprising a gate. 
 
     
     
       6. The gas storage apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the gas storage part comprises a porous structure comprising lattice spaces, each having a size less than that of the opening. 
     
     
       7. The gas storage apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the entrance control part is formed of a material having a melting point lower than that of a material constituting the gas storage part. 
     
     
       8. The gas storage apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the heating unit and the cooling unit heats and cools the entrance control part respectively to control a size of the gate. 
     
     
       9. A gas storage structure, comprising:
 a gas storage part defining an inner space for storing a gas, the gas storage part comprising an opening connecting the inner space to an outer space; and 
 an entrance control part disposed on the opening, the entrance control part comprising a gate connecting the inner space to the outer space, the entrance control part being configured to change a size of the gate according to a temperature so as to control the amount of a gas flowing through the gate. 
 
     
     
       10. The gas storage structure of  claim 9 , wherein the gas storage part comprises a porous structure. 
     
     
       11. The gas storage structure of  claim 10 , wherein an outer wall of the gas storage part is defined by lattice spaces of the porous structure. 
     
     
       12. The gas storage structure of  claim 10 , wherein the gate has a size greater than that of a lattice space of the gas storage part at a temperature higher than a critical temperature, wherein the critical temperature is higher than that of a vaporization point of the gas and lower than that of a melting point of the entrance control part. 
     
     
       13. The gas storage structure of  claim 12 , wherein the gate has a size equal to or less than that of the lattice space of the gas storage part at a temperature less than the critical temperature. 
     
     
       14. The gas storage structure of  claim 9 , wherein the entrance control part is formed of a material having a melting point less than that of a material constituting the gas storage part. 
     
     
       15. The gas storage structure of  claim 1 , wherein the gas storage part includes carbon based nano-structures. 
     
     
       16. The gas storage structure of  claim 1 , wherein each of the lattice spaces is a space defined by carbon atoms. 
     
     
       17. The gas storage structure of  claim 1 , wherein the gas storage part includes a porous polymer. 
     
     
       18. The gas storage structure of  claim 17 , wherein the lattice spaces are spaces defined by atoms or molecules that constitute the polymer.